By Ebi Kesiena
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has elected its first female Speaker, Memounatou Ibrahima.
The Togolese was chosen as the new Speaker during the 2024 Second Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature in Kano, Northwest Nigeria.
Hon. Ibrahima, along side Senou Soklingbe, and Patrick Kodjovi Senam Bolouvi, took their oaths before the ECOWAS Parliament in plenary during the 2024 Second Extraordinary Session on Thursday.
She emerged as Speaker due to the rotational system of the Community Parliament, which follows an alphabetical order in accordance with the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of Power.
The previous Speaker of the Fifth Legislature, Sidie Mohamed Tunis, was from Sierra Leone.
Ibrahima served as the third Deputy Speaker in the Fifth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament and has been a member since 2021.
She takes over from Senator Barau Jubrin, the Nigerian leader of the delegation, who was elected the First Deputy Speaker at the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament on April 4, 2024. Senator Jubrin had been acting as Speaker to maintain leadership continuity in the Community Parliament.
During the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS on April 4, 2024, the Togolese delegation was absent because they had not conducted elections to send their representatives to the Community Parliament.
Ibrahima was announced as Speaker after her parliamentary colleagues from Togo presented her as their choice. She was subsequently elected unopposed.
Following her election, Ibrahima was immediately presented with the instrument of authority, the gavel, by the Acting Speaker, Nigeria’s Senator Jubrin.
